Wednesday, March 29, 2017

my notes from yesterday's beer column on cbc radio one's on the coast with stephen quinn:

I'm feeling
optimistic enough about the arrival of Spring to talk about
Spring beers.

I think we can all agree that it is nice to get out
of the dark days of winter and celebrate with a beer that looks lighter in the
glass than a stout.

Of all the seasons of the year though, Spring has the fewest
beer styles associated with it. Traditionally,
and when I say traditionally, I mean in the Olde Worlde of beer (aka Germany
and Belgium) – traditionally a bock was the beer style that indicated spring
had arrived.

Bocks are strong lagers from Germany. You know it’s a bock if there’s a goat on the
label. The beer style is said to have
originated in Einbeck, and then when it was adopted by Munich brewers in the 17th
century, it was often mispronounced as Ein Bock, which means a billy goat. So the beers became known as Bocks and often
the label goes for the pun with a photo of a goat.

There are several versions of the style:

Maibocks or helles bocks are paler, hoppier
versions brewed for drinking in the spring.

Doppelbocks are essentially a “double” bock – very high
alcohol (7-12%) and quite sweet. And a
little more beer history for you – these are the beers drunk by the Bavarian
monks during the fasting period of Lent, so they have become associated with
Christian religious festivals like Christmas and Easter. They usually have a name that ends in “ator”,
after the original doppelbock brewed by monks – salvator (or saviour).

Weizenbocks are wheat bocks and generally more associated
with the fall season. They also tend to
be ales rather than lagers.

Eisbocks are super strong beers made by freezing a
doppelbock and removing the ice to concentrate the flavour and the
alcohol. These tend to be 9-13% abv. The flavour is very rich and sweet.

Bocks are not a terribly popular style locally, but you can
still find some bocks here. Tree
Brewing’s Captivator is a doppelbock – note the keeping up the tradition of
their name ending in “ator”!. Vancouver
Island Brewing’s Hermannator is an Eisbock. And Granville Island Brewing has a limited
edition doppelbock as part of their new cellar series.

Aside from bocks, I love a Berliner Weiss or a gose in the springtime – both are lightly sour
wheat beers, that are big on effervescence.
I will admit to drinking them all year long, perhaps because they feel
like springtime in a glass to me. The
acidity from the wheat also makes them extra thirst-quenching.

In a Berliner weisse the malts are kilned at low
temperatures to keep the colour down to a minimum. These are very sessional beers, usually
around 3% abv, and are fermented with lactic acid. You will often see these beers served with an
option of flavoured syrup (like raspberry or woordruff).

Goses are also often sessional beers of 4-5% alcohol, and
are also fermented with lactobacillus.
What sets a gose apart though is its saltiness. Goses also contain coriander. I find the spice and the salt, along with the
carbonation, very satisfying on my tastebuds and really savour these beers.

Saisons are also wonderful spring beers. Saisons were traditionally brewed during the
cooler months in Belgium, then stored for drinking by farm workers during the
summer months. Saisons tend to be fruity
and light bodied, but historically they did not have set characteristics. Rather they varied from farmhouse to farmhouse. Now there is a set style profile, but brewers
still experiment a lot within it – like with combinations of yeast strains,
fruit additions and spices. Regardless,
saisons are very refreshing beers and that definitely draws me to them as the
weather warms up.

Beer Tasting:

I brought in the Graff, which is a
collaboration between Ravens Brewing and Steel & Oak brewing, and it is a
collaboration between beer and cider too!

This is not a snakebite, which is a mix of beer and
cider. Nope, this is a different beast
entirely! This graf is brewed as a beer
initially, then it undergoes a secondary fermentation with the addition of
unfiltered local apple juice. Then it
gets dry-hopped!

Graf is one of those drinks that has quite an interesting
origin – graf was an apple-based beer in the Stephen King series The Dark
Tower. There were no details on how to
make graf in the books, so of course homebrewers started experimenting! Because there are no style guidelines for
graf, it’s up to the brewer to decide whether they’ll make a cider with some
beer in it, a beer with some cider in it, or an even balance of the two.

Granville Island doppel bock: Last year’s version won silver at the
Canadian Brewing Awards. This year’s
version has been tweaked a bit, and is the first beer in GIB’s new Cellar
Series. These small batch beers can be
cellared for up to three years. If you buy
a few bottles, you can try them at various points in time and see what aging
does to the flavour. The doppelbock is a
strong, full-bodied and sweet dark lager.
The doppelbock is only available at the Granville Island retail store in
650 ml bottles. 8.2% And there’s a double-headed goat on the
label!

Fieldhouse collaboration with Brassneck Brewing: In this edition of their Coolship
collaboration series, Fieldhouse teamed up with Brassneck to make a Wild Brett
Wasp Sour. If you think the name is a mouthful,
wait until you hear about all the different elements that went into making this
beer. Yeast from a wasp was extracted
and used in the beer. The beer was also
allowed to rest in the coolship overnight to attract some microflora. Then it was finished with Brettanomyces. Aromas of fruit and caramel, flavours of
honey and tart fruit. Light bodied and
mildly sour. 6.5%. Available in 750 ml bottles while supplies
last.

(The coolship is a broad, open-top, flat vessel in which to
cool the wort (the sugary liquid extracted from the malts that will be
fermented into beer). Because it is
open-topped, the wort is exposed to any yeasts and bacteria in the air. These microorganisms can spoil a beer – but
they can also sour it! The process is
known as spontaneous fermentation, and is the process used in traditional
Belgian lambics. The results are
unpredictable, but I think that’s where the real fun is for brewers.)

When I’m back in two weeks’ time, I’ll be giving away a
ticket to the Siris Cask Festival – this is a celebration of women in brewing
to be held in Port Coquitlam on April 22nd. So make sure you’re listening next time for
your chance to win a ticket!

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

For Immediate Release
March 28th, 2017. Vancouver, BCThe Railway Stage & Beer Café to open with exclusive free admission show by
The ZolasNew live music and comedy schedule to launch after opening on April 5th

The Railway Stage & Beer Café is thrilled to announce its grand
opening on Wednesday, April 5th, headlined by The Zolas. This special free
admission event will mark the rebirth of this legendary Vancouver venue and
offer a chance to see The Zolas, 2017 Juno nominee, in an intimate club
setting the night before their sold-out show at The Vogue Theatre.

Over the past weeks, work has been going on at full speed in preparation for
the opening: With the final details for the room, programming, and menus coming
together, The Railway will open its doors and return to life as a downtown
destination for live music and comedy, and local craft beer.

The Railway Stage will be a key element of the room and, under the direction of
local music impresario Thomas Anselmi, it’s been completely revamped
with the aspiration of being the most beautiful intimate live room in the city.
The audio system has been upgraded to offer top flight sound, and has been
matched with classic staging and lighting. ““We’re really proud of how the
stage has turned out, “ said Anselmi. “The new Railway will be a great
experience for performers and audiences alike.”

Grand opening night will launch the weekly schedule of events which features
Comedy Night Tuesdays, local music nights on Wednesdays and Thursdays, live
music happy hours, Joe Rotundo’s Saturday Sessions, and special weekend events
highlighting touring acts and the best up and coming music in the area.

The Railway Stage & Beer Café will be working with a creative locals to
offer special events, and an inclusive, cooperative showcase for the best
up-and-coming talent from in and out of town.

“We’re very committed to giving space to local up-and-coming acts,” said Chad
Cole, partner at The Railway. “We’ve dedicated our Wednesday and Thursday
nights to showcasing local acts, and bands who are interested in playing here
are welcome to send their demos directly to me at chadc@donnellygroup.ca.”

The beer program will include 24 taps and four cask engines pouring the very
best of BC, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. The taps will be 100% craft with
ever-changing menus and lots of limited releases and seasonal offerings.
Highlights of the first menu include Twin Sails Dat Juice, Moody Ales Intrepid
Lemon Matcha Saison, and Brooklyn Bel Air Sour.

Capacity for this show is limited, and The Railway Stage & Beer Café is
offering multiple ways for music fans to be part of this anticipated reopening.
70 General Admission tickets are being given away first-come, first-served at https://www.myshowpass.com/zolas-at-railway/
and 5 VIP packages will be given away on Instagram, where entering is as easy
as following @railwaysbc and tagging a friend in a contest post. Entries
may also be available at the door on the day of show, subject to capacity.

Monday, March 27, 2017

As a fan of Red Truck
Beer, we wanted to give you the opportunity to test drive your taste buds.
On Wednesday, April 5, at 7:00 PM, Seasons in the Park (West
33rd Ave, Queen Elizabeth Park, Vancouver) will allow you to do
just that with their latest Brewmasters dinner collaboration.

Indulge in a Chef-crafted five-course dinner menu paired with
our classic and seasonal Red Truck offerings, with each course designed to
cut or complement our delicious brew – all while you take in some of
Vancouver’s most spectacular scenery. Tickets for the Brewmasters dinner
are only $70 plus tax and they are going fast.

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

About
Steamworks Brewing Company: Named after the steam that flows
through and powers its Burnaby brewery & flagship brewpub in
Gastown, Steamworks proudly brews distinct, flavourful and
award-winning craft beers.

STEAMWORKS
LAUNCHES NEW

SUMMER
ALE

March 21st, 2017 (Burnaby, BC)

Canadians may still be waiting for Spring but
Steamworks is getting fired up for Summer with the release of their
new seasonal Summer Ale.

Crisp and thirst quenching with a distinct
citrus aroma, this wheat ale gets a refreshing kick from sweet
orange peel, lemon peel and grains of paradise. The balance of
bright citrus, fruity hops, and spice make this lively brew perfect
for any summer day.

Steamworks Brewmaster Julia Hanlon and her
team set out to create a beer with versatility in mind. Easy
drinking enough to pair with summer activities but enough
complexity to keep things interesting. So whether you’re poolside
or countryside Steamworks Summer Ale is the perfect accessory to
summer adventures.

The beer will be hitting pubs and shelves
everywhere in early April in a striking matte orange tall can
4-pack and in Steamworks new Summer Mash-Up. However, you can try
it today at the Steamworks taproom in Burnaby and brewpub/LRS in
Gastown.

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Join 5000+ craft enthusiasts and 65 craft beer & cideries at the 22nd
Annual Okanagan Fest of Ale™, April 7 & 8, 2017 and taste your way through town at one, or more,
of the craft themed events taking place during Okanagan Beer Week™April 3rd – 9th, 2017 in Penticton.

In addition to the 2-day Consumer Tasting organizers of the 2017
Okanagan Fest of Ale are excited to be showcasing craft themed events
throughout the week leading up to this years Okanagan Fest of Ale as a part of
Okanagan Beer Week™. Participating restaurants include Craft Corner
Kitchen, Brodo, and The Pasta Factory each of which will be offering a unique
craft themed dinner featuring local craft brews.

“With 7 craft breweries and a dozen craft cideries throughout the
region, Penticton has quickly become a destination for craft beer and cider
enthusiasts. We’re as excited to be working with area businesses to share
and promote the excitement for craft beer and cider here in the area as we are
to be welcoming craft brewers from out of the area to the main event this year”
says John Cruickshank, Okanagan Fest of Ale Society President.

In addition to craft themed dinners, Joe Wiebe, The Thirsty Writer, will
be offering a seminar and tasting focused on IPA’s at Bad Tattoo Brewing on the
Thursday evening April 6th, local area breweries will of course be
open for tastings throughout the week.

“The signature event will always be the 2-day consumer tasting which
will feature 65
breweries from BC and beyond this year. It’s by far the largest number of
participants to date and includes a great mix of longstanding favourites and
new breweries and cideries from all across the province,” says
Cruickshank. There will be over 175 quality-crafted brews and ciders for
tasting including new releases, experimental brews and cask ales. Guests
of the fest can also look forward to fabulous food, with many restaurateurs incorporating
a craft inspired twist on their dish, and live entertainment taking place
around the venue both indoors and out.

New for 2017, we will be offering guests the opportunity to purchase
their tasting tokens with either cash or by card at various locations
throughout the venue. “The change is not only consumer friendly but also
allowed us to rework our floor plan to accommodate a greater number of brewer
vendors, and free up space for an few neat additions this year” says Cruickshank.

Cascade Casino, set open their doors April 5th, will be
setting up a few gaming tables in the newly created area alongside various
industry themed displays and information tables. Also new, and certain to be
popular with our guests from the Kelowna are tasting trips being offered by
Distinctly Kelowna Tours and West Kelowna Wine Tours – trip times and
itineraries vary with service being offered from Kelowna and West Kelowna.

“All in
all it’s shaping up to be one the best events yet” says Cruickshank.
“Tickets have been selling remarkably well with a notable increase in the
number of 2-day weekend pass and ticket and accommodation packages sold to
date. If you’re planning to attend we certainly encourage you to book soon in
order to avoid disappointment.”

Make plans Sip, Savour and Celebrate the best in craft beer and cider at
the

Okanagan
Beer Week events will be posted on www.FestofAle.ca
as details become available

______________________________________

Operating as a
non-profit society, and managed by a Volunteer Board of Directors, the Okanagan
Fest of Ale Society hosts an annual Consumer Craft Beer and Cider Tasting that functions
to support and promote the growing world of quality craft brewery products,
promote local tourism and support charitable organizations within the Regional
District of the Okanagan-Similakameen. Since its inception, $537,660 in
net proceeds has been gifted back to qualifying registered charities.

Monday, March 6, 2017

March
6th, 2017 - Pucker up and play the sour note! The
first ever release from our Sour Note series takes an encore this
week. This tasty sour is born as a medium bodied brown ale and
fermented with a saison yeast. Following this, it is infused with
raspberries and augmented with a lively Lactobacillus bacteria, the
magical secret to sour. Like all of our special sour note releases,
this brew features our own 'lacto' strain that was cultured in-house
from our spent grain.

A tangy
berry nose leads to a rich, slightly sharp raspberry tartness through
the body that finishes puckeringly dry. This sour brew is proof that
sometimes the best notes fall outside of traditional scales.

Thorny Horn is only available from private craft-focused liquor
stores for a limited time! If you find yourself in our
neighborhood this Thursday March 9th, come on by between 4-6 for a
special draft tasting.

Saturday, March 4, 2017

VANCOUVER ISLAND BREWING LAUNCH SEES FOUR BRAND NEW BEERS AND THREE OF THE CLASSICS REINVENTED

For Immediate Release March 3rd, 2017

Vancouver – Following a successful (re)launch in both Victoria and Vancouver, Vancouver Island Brewing (VI Brewing) is ready to showcase its incredible new lineup to the public. The unveiling saw a twist on three of their classic beers as well as a preview of four exclusive new ones.

This new stellar beer lineup consists of a Citrus Session, an IPA, a Mexican-style Cerveza and a Lager.

Sombrio Citrus Session

· A beer with noticeable hop content, and tons of bright flavour thanks to the proprietary blend of citrus zests added to each batch. The tastes of lemon, lime, and tangerine dominate this highly sessionable ale.

19 IPA

· A full-flavored beer with a silky malt backbone and a bright hop profile of tropical fruit, and citrus - it packs all the taste of an IPA with much more friendly alcohol content.

· This pale golden lager exhibits a classic clean character with notes of biscuity malts. Bitterness is akin to a German Pilsner with an aromatic aroma. Mouthfeel is firm and even, with an overall dry tone.

The Victoria Lager is currently available on draught at the brewery, and will be hitting the market in the next few months.

The rest of the portfolio of beers is now available across B.C. in both government and private liquor stores as well as in finer on premise establishments. Limited supply will also be available in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Vancouver Island Brewing, now under new management, has been a leader in the craft beer industry in Canada for over 30 years and epitomises the Pacific Northwest lifestyle and ethos. For more information please visit: http://www.vibrewing.com/

About Vancouver Island Brewing
Since 1984 Vancouver Island Brewing has been serving finer craft beers from the heart of downtown Victoria BC. Now starting a new chapter, Vancouver Island Brewing is redefining itself as a leader again in the craft brewing industry, under new ownership and management. Vancouver Island Brewing believes in connecting with the people who make our beer, sell our beer, and buy our beer, as well as the land & sea that surrounds us.
-30-

Friday, March 3, 2017

Now introducing: Central City's easy-drinking

'Beer League Craft Brewed Lager'

Surrey,
British Columbia. Beer League is the latest in craft beer to hit
the market and show an approachable style to craft beer flavour.
Swinging for the fences, this new craft lager will be available in
British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba, in March 2017. Beer League
is the newest brand to come from Surrey, BC’s Central City Brewers
& Distillers.

Brewed as a traditional craft lager, the Beer League
recipe was created to be an approachable, easy drinking, and
flavourful, craft beer. Sports-focused, the brand plays tribute to
the weekend warrior and recreational team sports beer drinker.
Nothing says team spirit like sharing a 6-pack of Beer League after
the big game.

Central City’s Brewmaster Gary Lohin adds, “We
wanted to create a brand that could get more people into craft beer
with great flavour, affordable pricing and a relatable image. Beer
League is a beer that we are very proud of, and has the potential
to get more people across Canada enjoying the great flavour of a
craft brewed lager."

The official launch date for Beer League Craft Lager
will be March 15th at the CentralCity Brewpub at 871 Beatty
Street in Vancouver, BC. The launch event will focus on the
sporting nature of the brand, with games such as table hockey,
darts, and bean bag toss.A light-hearted approach to competition
is true to the beer style and the beer league competitor.

Dedicated to supporting and engaging with athletes
of all levels, Beer League is a proud sponsor of sports teams in
Canada. Beer League will be available at the Scotiabank Nat Bailey
Stadium through the summer of 2017. Packaged product and draught
Beer League Craft Brewed Lager will be available at select
locations in British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba.

Beer League Craft Brewed Lager is brewed by Central
City Brewers & Distillers. Twice winners of the coveted
Canadian Brewery of the Year Award, Beer League was designed to be
a best in class craft beer with an easy drinking flavour. Whether
you are celebrating after a big game or simply looking for a
refreshing craft lager, hit it out of the park with Beer League.

Central City is a craft
brewery and distillery in the business of developing, producing and
selling international award-winning, premium craft beer and
high quality distilled spirits brewed without compromise.
Based in Surrey, British Columbia, CCBD was voted Canada’s Brewery
of the Year in 2010 and 2012. Their Red Racer brand has become
a cult icon among craft beer enthusiasts throughout North
America.

*******************

About
Steamworks Brewing Company: Named after the steam that flows
through and powers its Burnaby brewery & flagship brewpub in
Gastown, Steamworks proudly brews distinct, flavourful and
award-winning craft beers.

STEAMWORKS
& DAGERAAD TEAM UP FOR

NEW COLLAB BREW

March 2nd, 2017 (Burnaby,BC)

Hot off the release of their award-winning
Flagship IPA ,Steamworks has turned their attention to a different
ship: friend-ships! Bad puns aside, the Burnaby brewery is excited
to announce a new collaboration brew.

Steamworks has been busy collaborating with
their fellowBurnaby based brewers at Dageraad Brewing. Aptly namedthe “East of East Van Bottle Conditioned Saison”, these tworiver
city brewers have crafted a beer worth crossingBoundary Ave for.
This exotic saison features black lime andwhite pepper, which
gives it a spicy aroma, crisp flavor anddry finish. Steamworks
brewmaster Julia Hanlon expandsupon the release:

“We wanted to celebrate our brewery’s Burnaby
roots withour friends at Dageraad. The addition of black limes
makefor a really unique release and it’s our first Bottle
Conditionedbeer at Steamworks, who better to team up with, thanDageraad, who are experts at the art of bottle conditioning!”

The saison follows the recently released Wild
MuscariFarmhouse Ale, a collaboration brew between Steamworks& Fieldhouse Brewing out of Abbotsford, BC.

The East of East Van Saison is now available
in very limitedquantities on-tap and in a 750ml bottle at
SteamworksBurnaby Brewery & Taproom and will be hitting
privateliquor stores shelves later this week.

Thursday, March 2, 2017

Odd Society
Collab Release Friday March 3rd!

This Friday
we will be putting a keg of our first collaboration with Odd Society Sprits on tap! We've
been barrel ageing our Northwest Red Ale in their gin barrels for the
last two weeks and are finally ready to release it. Odd Society
will also be releasing a keg of the collab in their tasting room on the
same night.

This is the first of many collabs we will be doing with Odd
Society's barrels. Stay tuned!

About Me

i didn't always love beer - there was a time in the distant past where i just didn't have a taste for it. fortunately my taste buds changed and my love affair with beer began. slowly at first, eventually blowing itself up into my current obsession with all things beer. i enjoy drinking beer, but i also enjoy reading about beer, talking about beer, thinking about beer and one day soon will actually brew something worth bragging about. my overwhelming beer obsession is hops - love them, can't get enough of them, grow them! you can hear me wax poetic about beer every second tuesday at 5:50 p.m. on cbc radio one's on the coast with stephen quinn (88.1 fm in vancouver and 690 am).